One of the biggest decisions in Garrett Bernardo's life was between playing professional baseball or becoming a missionary.

To a lot of Americans, "First World problems" and "luxury problems" are just funny Twitter hashtags, used to describe tangled earbuds or mushy french fries.
But when Zoe Poli-Laddis went on a service trip to Uganda this summer, she saw the disconnect between her life and the lives of the Ugandan children she met.

As summer turns to fall, our hearts go out to our young people, many of whom will soon be leaving home. We hope your summer has been fun and relaxing, but also one of spiritual growth and renewal.

"What a wonderful way to promote vocations and to spread thejoy of the Gospel!" said an onlooker when 600 Catholics of all ages gathered at St. Pius X parish in Loudonville Aug. 8 for the third annual Concert for Vocations.Thursday, August 17, 2017

The Women's Guild at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus parish in Windham will hold a huge "Women's Expo" Aug. 19. The Greene County Domestic Violence Shelter will receive the proceeds.Thursday, August 10, 2017

A rare beatification will occur in the United States when Rev. Solanus Casey, a Capuchin Franciscan, is honored in a Nov. 18 ceremony in Detroit. Participating in the rite will be Molly Towne of St. Clement's parish in Saratoga Springs.(2 comments)Thursday, August 3, 2017

What began as a way to address the media furor around the Netflix television series "13 Reasons Why" has ended with the formation of a mental health awareness committee for the Albany Diocese.Thursday, August 3, 2017

Choosing a confirmation name is a pretty big deal when accepting your faith. After all, my name, Joseph, has been with me since my birth and will stay with me for the rest of my life. It is the first thing people learn about me. It has become my identity.Thursday, August 17, 2017

Names are important. They signify who we are and give us individuality. However, we cannot name ourselves. This crucial decision is left to our parents -- but our faith allows us a chance to add to our name and make it truly ours.Thursday, August 17, 2017

When my children were young, they attended St. John the Evangelist elementary school in Schenectady. The school took part in the national DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance and Education) program.Thursday, August 17, 2017

Southerners revere the memory of the late Hank Williams (1923-53), arguably the greatest country-western entertainer of the last century. His career was tragically cut short by a premature death at the age of 30. Sixty-plus years later, Williams' name is still one of the most recognizable in many areas of our country. His hard-earned fame has stood the test of time.Thursday, August 17, 2017

Rev. James Fitzmaurice, pastor of Christ the King parish in Westmere, Albany, is getting closer to fulfilling his baseball dream: visiting every one of the 30 major-league stadiums.Thursday, August 10, 2017

This summer, St. Vincent de Paul parish in Cobleskill held a group of "listening sessions" after a Saturday-evening vigil Mass to get parishioners' input on parish events, plans and projects for the new fiscal year.Thursday, August 10, 2017

Mass-goers can get used to seeing the same faces in the pews around them each Sunday, but that doesn't mean an empty pew one week becomes a cause for concern.
St. Adalbert's parish in Schenectady thinks maybe it should be.Thursday, August 3, 2017